Balewites felicitate with first female Bauchi state university VC, Prof. Fatima
Mohammed Kaka Misau
The Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Alumni has felicitated with one of their own, Prof Fatimah Ja’afar Tahir, over her appointment as the Vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University Gadau by the Bauchi state government.
The Alumni while congratulating her Bauchi state’s second female but the first female Professor of Microbiology and Acting Vice Chancellor Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB), Borno State, said Prof. Fatima is known to be the first female Professor in the Bauchi Local Government Area of Bauchi State and the first female Professor in the state produced by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi.
“Born on 8th February 1966, she did all her education in Bauchi from primary, secondary, and tertiary levels. Her outstanding academic achievements within Bauchi State make her refer to herself as “Made in Bauchi”, they said.
According to the Alumni, her tertiary education was done in ATBU Bauchi beginning with her first degree, master’s, and Ph.D.
“Equally, her entire professional career was accomplished in ATBU, Bauchi, where she started as a Graduate Assistant and rose to the level of Professor of Microbiology”, they added.
The Alumni further explained that Prof. Fatima started in 1991 as a Graduate Assistant and moved to the rank of Assistant Lecturer in 1994 after her master’s.
“Thereafter, she got the usual promotions every year to Lecturer II, Lecturer I, and Senior Lecturer and in 2009, she became a Professor”, the statement said.
The Alumni noted that the new vice Chancellor is married with children, adding that, in 2011, she was honored by an Association as the first female Professor in the Bauchi Local Government area of Bauchi state.
“Professor Fatimah Tahir has over 30 publications in reputable journals and has supervised many postgraduate students, MSc and Ph.D. She is a member of relevant learned societies, including the Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST), American Society for Microbiology (ASM), and Society for Applied Microbiology (SFAM)”, they said.
The Alumni said Prof. Fatima has until her appointment as vice Chancellor of Sa’adu Zungur University Gadau, held so many administrative responsibilities in the university which include among others; being Head of Department (Gombe State University), Director of Academic Planning (Bauchi State University Gadau), Dean of School of Postgraduate Studies (ATBU), DVC Academics (NAUB) and is currently the Acting Vice Chancellor NAUB.
“Prof Tahir has served and is serving in Governing Councils, Boards of Colleges of Education, Universities, and many NGOs. A reputable researcher, Prof Tahir is a lead researcher and member of many research groups in ATBU, including the Tetfund IBR, Tetfund NRF, ATBU Entomopathogenic fungi research group, ATBU BNRCC project, ATBU EU INSIDE project, ATBU NEI/USAID project, ATBU-NNPC EBLS/EIA group and a beneficiary of the third world organization of women in science (TWOWS) research grant award”, they said.
The Alumni further explained that Prof. Fatima is an external examiner to many other Nigerian Universities and has assessed at least 10, associate Professors/Readers up to 8 Professors for Universities across the country. Prof Fatimah is very active in community services, contributing her quota to the development of the country.